New York City Vacation Accident Lawyers
Each year, millions of tourists and locals alike take vacations throughout the state of New York. People from all over the world come to visit not only New York City but also the variety of other vacation destinations throughout this naturally beautiful state. Each summer, NYC locals look to escape the hectic pace of the city by visiting quieter and more peaceful destinations like the Adirondacks, Catskills, and Finger Lakes.
While a vacation is supposed to be a relaxing break from the worries of everyday life, some unfortunate vacationers end up suffering a serious injury while away from home. An unexpected injury can ruin what could have been a perfect vacation, and complications from these injuries often linger long after the vacation ends. Many of these injuries are preventable and only happen because of another person’s negligence. Whether you’re a tourist visiting from out of state or a New York local, you deserve financial compensation if another party’s reckless or careless behavior caused you to be injured.
Common Vacation Accidents
New York City’s tourism industry continues to grow, as the city saw over 60 million visitors in 2016. While the city has long moved past the dangerous reputation it had in the 1970s and 80s, it’s still important to stay safe when you’re visiting from out of town. All cities have their fair share of hazards, and anyone can become the victim of an unexpected injury due to another person’s negligence.
Every year in New York City, countless locals and tourists are injured in a variety of preventable accidents. When this happens, it’s often necessary to seek compensation for injury-related expenses in a personal injury lawsuit. Common examples of New York City tourist injuries include:
- Slips, trips, and falls – Slip, trip, and fall hazards can be found in New York City’s businesses, tourist hot spots, streets, sidewalks, public transportation stations, etc. It’s common for both tourists and locals to frequently walk between destinations. Property owners often fail to address such hazards as uneven sidewalks, ice and snow, liquid spills, autumn leaves, and more. When someone gets injured because of a slip and fall hazard that should have been addressed, they could file a personal injury lawsuit against the property owner
- Auto accidents – Traffic in NYC is hectic and the roads are filled with impatient and aggressive drivers. Some of these drivers are people we expect to trust when we’re passengers, such as cab drivers and public transportation employees. Auto accident injuries are often severe and require extensive medical treatment. Victims are often left with unmanageable expenses and require additional financial compensation through a lawsuit.
- Crime victim injuries – Crime is a fact of life in any big city, but many crimes could be prevented with better safety precautions. Property owners have a duty to provide adequate security measures which can reduce the risk of crime. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a crime while visiting NYC and you believe it was caused by negligence (such as inattentive security personnel, inadequate security staff, improper lighting, lack of security cameras, etc), you could have a case for a lawsuit against both the perpetrator and the property owner who failed to keep their premises secure.
If you or a family member suffered a serious injury while visiting NYC, you may be eligible for financial compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. While some accidents are unavoidable and the result of bad luck, many others could have been prevented but not for another party’s negligence.
Property Owners & Premises Liability
All property owners have a duty to keep their properties free of potential dangers. This is known as premises liability. There are several potential dangers which can cause serious injuries if left unaddressed:
- Failing to clear walkways slip and fall hazards like snow and ice
- Failing to repair broken steps, staircases, or sidewalks
- Inadequate lighting
- Insufficient security measures to prevent crime
- Wet floors with no warning signs
- Uncleared leaves from outside of property
These rules apply to all types of property owners, including homeowners, business owners, and public agencies. If a property owner is aware of a dangerous condition, or reasonably should have been aware of one, and someone else gets injured, the property owner could face liability in a personal injury lawsuit.
Negligent Drivers & Transportation Workers
New York City has all kinds of options for transportation in and around the city. It’s important for both civilian drivers and public transportation workers to exercise extreme caution while on the road, in the subway, on the water, or in any other transportation arena. Tourists and locals alike are at risk of suffering injuries as passengers in the following areas:
- Cabs, Ubers, or Lyfts
- Boats, ferries, cruise ships, and other water vehicles
- Public transportation (buses, subways, trains, etc.)
- Guided tour buses
Even when transportation workers act with appropriate caution and follow safety standards to the letter, an accident can still happen if another person behaves negligently.
What If I’ve Already Returned Home?
Don’t worry if you’ve already left the city – our lawyers can help fight your case for you without forcing you to disrupt your daily routine. Many personal injury claims are settled out of court, in which case you won’t have to return to the city at all. But even if you do need to appear in court, a quick trip to the city will be worth it in order to receive the financial compensation you need while you’re recovering from your injuries.
Vacation Accidents Throughout New York State
Unexpected injuries aren’t just limited to the big city. This beautiful state offers countless opportunities to connect with nature. When we visit these areas, we expect that our families will be safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as these businesses and property owners are just as capable of negligence as the ones in the big city.
Common areas where vacation accidents occur in New York state include:
Camping
Safe camping is all about being prepared, but even well-prepared families may be susceptible to camping injuries due to the negligence of the campground or another camper. Campgrounds should conduct regular maintenance to make sure the grounds are safe for their guests, including secured trash cans to keep wildlife away, fire prevention methods, adequate and attentive staff, and proper safety signs.
Campers may cause harm to others due to negligent behavior, such as improperly starting a fire or failing to keep food safe and secure. In any situation where someone else’s careless mistake leads to an injury, that person may be held liable for damages if it is determined that they acted with negligence.
Boating
Operating a boat requires a high degree of care and responsibility. Even a slight lapse in judgement could cause an accident which results in serious injuries to people on board. If your family was riding on a boat and the operator caused an accident due to negligence, you may be able to hold that operator liable for injury-related expenses.
Common forms of boat operator negligence include:
- Alcohol use
- Inattentiveness
- Inexperience
- Speeding
- Improper boat maintenance
- Improper lookout
Driving
Car accidents happen anywhere and everywhere. They are especially common on long weekends like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the 4th of July, when the highways are packed with families on their way to vacation. Even when you drive as carefully as possible, another careless driver can cause an accident which could cause serious injuries to you and your family.
Sports and Physical Activities
Getaways to central and upstate New York offer a variety of physical activities in the midst of nature, including:
- Ziplining
- Paragliding
- Parasailing
- Water-skiing
- Bungee jumping
- Go-kart tracks
These activities can be thrilling, but it’s extremely important to make sure safety rules are followed to the letter. Tour companies specialize in these activities, and there is no excuse for allowing an injury occur.
Cruise ships
Cruise ships are some of the most common areas where vacation injuries occur. Many of these ships leave from New York City, which means that injuries which occur on board usually fall into the jurisdiction of the state of New York. An accident while at sea can be particularly traumatizing, and victims often require compensation for a long and painful recovery process
Common examples of cruise ship accidents include:
- Falls overboard
- Slips and falls
- Illnesses from unsanitary conditions
- Sexual assault and other crimes
- Medical negligence and malpractice
- Crimes committed during on-shore trips
These cruise ships have a duty to do all that they can to keep passengers safe. Those who fail to meet this duty could be considered negligent and may face liability in a personal injury lawsuit.
Amusement Parks
Part of the excitement of an amusement park ride is the thrill you get from feeling like you’re in danger. However, these amusement parks have a duty to make sure that their guests are never in any real danger. If someone gets injured while on a ride or due to another hazardous condition at the park, they could sue the park for damages related to their injury.
What Are The Requirements For A Lawsuit?
In order to file a personal injury lawsuit, you must prove that another party’s negligence was the main cause of your injury. Negligence is a legal term which essentially means a failure to act responsibly which results in an injury to another person. As members of a civilized society, we owe it to each other to do all that we can to keep our environment free of hazards which could hurt someone else. When someone fails to meet this duty, the injured victim may hold them liable for both economic and noneconomic damages.
Determining negligence can be complicated and usually requires a legal evaluation of the circumstances behind your accident and injuries.
What Will A Personal Injury Lawsuit Pay For?
A personal injury lawsuit will help pay for all expenses related to your injury. You shouldn’t be financially punished because of someone else’s careless behavior. This is why our experienced New York City personal injury lawyers are proud to hold negligent parties responsible for the damages they’ve caused, including:
- All medical expenses
- Past and future lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
Every injury case is different, and the amount of compensation you may receive depends on the circumstances of your accident and injuries. Our lawyers can give you a better idea of what to expect in a free initial consultation, and we’ll only ask for payment if we win for you.
